▲ Chang Ung, a North Korean International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, attends the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea, in this file photo. (Yonhap)
▲ Chang Ung (R), an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from North Korea, shakes hands with fellow IOC member Wu Ching-Kuo of Chinese Taipei (L) during the opening ceremony of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) World Taekwondo Championships at Taekwondowon's T1 Arena in Muju, North Jeolla Province, on June 24, 2017. (Yonhap)
▲ Kim Un-yong, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) (R), and North Korean IOC member Chang Ung attend a taekwondo event at the Gudeok Gymnasium during the Asian Games on Oct. 10, 2002. (Yonhap)
▲ Chang Ung, a North Korean International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, arrives at Incheon International Airport on Feb. 4, 2018, to attend the 132nd IOC Session in Gangeung, a sub-host city of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the following day. (Yonhap)

N Korean IOC member-obituary

N. Korea's longtime IOC member Chang Ung dies at 87

SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- Chang Ung, North Korea's long-serving member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has died, the committee said on its website Wednesday. He was 87.

In a post, the IOC expressed "deep sorrow" over the passing of Chang, who had been an IOC member since 1996 and later served as an honorary member.

"Chang devoted his whole life to the development of sports in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and to fostering dialogue within the Olympic Movement," IOC President Kirsty Coventry said in a statement, using North Korea's official name.

"His efforts to promote cooperation on the Korean Peninsula demonstrated the power of sport to build bridges and inspire hope," she added.

Born in Pyongyang in 1938, Chang began his career as a basketball player before transitioning into coaching and sports education in North Korea. He also held senior positions within the country's Olympic committee for many years.

He played notable roles in inter-Korean sports diplomacy, including the launch of the inter-Korean joint table tennis team in 1991. He also facilitated the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the North's International Taekwondo Federation and the South's World Taekwondo Federation at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, in 2014, according to the IOC.

Chang also contributed to the joint march of the two Koreas' delegations at the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games. During the latter, Chang visited South Korea and told local press that he was "deeply moved" to see athletes from both nations marching together. He left before the closing ceremony due to health concerns.

One of his last public appearances was at the 134th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland, in June 2019.

Over the course of his IOC tenure, he served on several commissions, including the International Olympic Truce Foundation and Public Affairs and Social Development through Sport, Culture and Olympic Heritage.

Chang is survived by a son and daughter, both of whom are involved in North Korea's sports sector.

The IOC said the Olympic flag will be flown at half-mast for three days at Olympic House in his honor.

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